Smith and Wesson Performance Center Ported 9mm to see what a large expensive full size is like. The Sccy may not have been my best first choice since I tried to go for budget over range function.

Chiappa Rhino - a lower bore axis changes the perceived recoil from the usual muzzle flip to more controllable push. This gun is a little hard to find and the price is up there. I could settle for a ported Taurus instead.

Bond Arms Texas Defender- just for the fun of it.

Honorable mention goes to

Boberg - for a new take on loading that allows a longer barrel but ends up being finicky about bullets (according to reports I've read anyway.)

Super Comanche - for being cool, cheap, and weird all at the same time. If it was a 357 instead of a 410 I might have one now.

Whatever works for you. My favorite handgun in the world is the FNX-9. On principle, I don't like thumb safeties for carry. It's a bad idea to add one extra step that you might forget in a high stress situation. The LAST thing I want is to pull that trigger and have nothing happen in a life or death situation. So I just leave the safety off while carrying.Bottom line, the best gun is the one that works best for you. If no safety makes you feel uncomfortable, then it's important that you have a safety. If the opposite is true, then you should avoid guns with safeties.

I picked up a Taurus Curve a while back, as a range toy and curiousity. With a little practice, it's surprisingly easy to get good groups.

Also, Gunshot Wounds Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques is available on Amazon, a good read if you want to avoid getting lead astray by the "CSI effect" or gunshop lore.